Diabetic woman pleads not guilty in fatal crash

San Diego  A 71-year old woman accused of crashing into a bus stop in City Heights, killing a young mother and injuring her boyfriend and their 4-year-old son, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to gross vehicular manslaughter.

Prosecutors contend that Jean Chizer-Williams, who suffers from diabetes, experienced a bout of extremely low blood sugar in June when she lost control of the vehicle she was driving and fatally injured Vanessa Mae Shane, 25.

In addition to manslaughter, Chizer-Williams also pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor count of driving on a suspended license. If convicted of all charges and allegations, she could be sentenced to up to 12 years in prison.

San Diego Superior Court Judge David Szumowski set bail at $75,000.

Police have said that the collision occurred June 4 about 8 p.m., when the driver of a PT Cruiser struck a bus stop shelter at University Avenue near Euclid Avenue.

Shane died at a hospital. She had been at a park in City Heights earlier in the day with her boyfriend David Abilez, then 28, and their child, Elijah.

Deputy District Attorney John Pro said in court that Abilez and Elijah both suffered broken bones and were hospitalized for a week or more. Glass shards from the wreck punctured the boy’s liver.

Pro said Chizer-Williams had been in at least three other crashes since 2006, none of which resulted in injuries, and that her license had been suspended because of her medical condition. He explained later that the defendant had crashed into a bus, an embankment along southbound Interstate 5 and two parked cars in separate incidents.

Chizer-Williams was taken to a hospital for treatment and observation after the crash, but wasn’t charged until this week. She was arrested Monday at her San Diego home.

The prosecutor said it took time to gather information about her driving record and medical condition, and to conduct a proper investigation to determine the appropriate charges.

When asking the judge to set a low bail amount, Deputy Public Defender Kevin Milmoe said in court that Chizer-Williams had immediately complied with officers’ instructions at the scene of the June 4 crash. He noted she had three felony convictions on her record, the last one in 1978, but did not elaborate on the details.